And...We're.....OFF!

 This bike was delivered by Santa almost 3 years. It sat in our garage for 3 years. Occasionally, it would see the light of day but the older Brax was getting the more hesitant he was to ride it when I would walk. He was getting older and the kids from school were most often than not out. Braxton turned 8 in June. I have never tried to rush him to do something so it was according to "average" but I was starting to push this issue just a bit. Actually I shoved it.
The tires were a little flat when we took it out last week and I asked Brandon when he filled them up with air if he wold just take the training wheels off. Braxton didn't like hearing that at first and we explained that when he first started swimming he struggled. When he first started reading he struggled. And riding a bike would be the same way. And absolutely it was. For the first 5 minutes. You read that right. 5 minutes and then he had it down. I went out and took a picture of Braxton before the "struggle" began and went back in to clean up the kitchen from dinner. I looked out the window out back and I saw all 3 of them moving to the left and when I looked back up I saw Mckinley and Brandon running to the right cheering! I went flying out back and almost started crying. I couldn't believe it.  Something he had put off and dreaded so long he conquered in less than 30 minutes. We were very proud.

And naturally because Braxton had his helmet on Mckinley had to have one on too!!! She is her brothers biggest cheerleader.

Chawston

(No thats not a typo. Thats the way my southern duo say Charleston....)

They've fallen hard. In love. With a city. We just returned home this weekend from the beach and a few days visiting Chris and Ali. Much to see and plenty to do and I forgot my camera on the day we went out and about. I had to rely on the men of the group to catch some photos for me.
Brax and Mck had a ball. We hope to return soon so we can walk and tour more and not need a shower. 

Ridiculous

I don't care what anybody says. I have even said it before. Life does not get THAT busy. There have been many many times over the past 6 months that I have told myself I need to put "that" on the blog or I need to tell "that" story. And the truth is I could have. I certainly should have because the moment is gone and all that I have are the pictures. The funny story would have made the pictures so much better. I just get tired. When the kids are in bed at night I think about all that needs to be done. I'm lucky some nights to get lunches packed and the coffee ready to be turned on at 5am.
It's summer now. I am able to reflect these days and one of the most precious things to me are pictures of my family. And the stories that help tell more about them. Again, I am posting pictures just to show you some of the things we've been up to. I am going to start posting again more regularly.

Even if just the 5 of us look at this blog.......

Gone Too Soon

And just like that...it was over. Another one of our babies has graduated to a "big bed". It really is a very hard experience.
We started telling Mckinley last year that as soon as she started using the potty that she'd get a big girl bed. Well. That came and went way too fast. She'd bring it up after she was trained and I would push it off. I kept thinking how old Braxton was and told myself that she'd be the same age in November and we'd do it then. Then Christmas came. And I just wasn't ready.
Just like her big brother, the girl loved her bed. She'd ask to get in it during the day. She'd want to get in it after her bath and watch the iPad until bedtime. Never once did she try to climb out. Never once.
Finally we knew that we couldn't keep putting it off. So after she was finished with dance class one week we met the boys. On our way I told her we were going to meet them and what we were going to do. When she got out of the car and saw them she squealed "I'm getting my big girl bed!". All throughout the store she'd say "I'm getting a big girl bed". We knew we were making the right decision. Even as heartbroken as we were, that again,  our little baby was no more.
I think she played in her big girl bed all day. Just like her big brother, when bedtime came and the lights were out, she too  missed her baby bed.
We see everyday in both of our children that they are growing. And fast. When I look back at this blog I'm reminded of how far we've come and how fast it's happened.
And I'm filled with happiness and sadness.